Abstract: A mechanical leech system may include a fluid exchange assembly. The fluid exchange assembly may be attached to a patient's target tissue area via suturing or the like, and may be activated to perform blood removal and treatment agent infusion. The fluid exchange assembly may include an inflow pathway for infusion of treatment agents into the tissue area, and an outflow pathway for removal of blood. The outflow pathway may be sized and/or shaped to promote laminar fluid flow and avoid coagulation. The assembly may include a channel housing, gasket, and base. Needles seated in the assembly may receive blood from a patient and infuse a treatment agent into the patient. The assembly may be connectable to a pump to urge the blood and the treatment agent through the inflow and outflow pathways. A cradle optionally provides protection and storage for the assembly.

Abstract: A mechanical leech system may include a fluid exchange assembly. The fluid exchange assembly may be attached to a patient's target tissue area via suturing or the like, and may be activated to perform blood removal and treatment agent infusion. The fluid exchange assembly may include an inflow pathway for infusion of treatment agents into the tissue area, and an outflow pathway for removal of blood. The outflow pathway may be sized and/or shaped to promote laminar fluid flow and avoid coagulation. The assembly may include a channel housing, gasket, and base. Needles seated in the assembly may receive blood from a patient and infuse a treatment agent into the patient. The assembly may be connectable to a pump to urge the blood and the treatment agent through the inflow and outflow pathways. A cradle optionally provides protection and storage for the assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes and methods for converting lipids comprising fatty acids into fatty esters. According to various embodiments of the invention, the saponifiable lipids are reacted with a base to form alkali soaps. The alkali soaps are then reacted with an acid to form fatty esters. Both the base reaction and the acid reaction may occur in the presence of one or more alcohols. Following the acid reaction, a solvent may be added to effect a separation of the fatty esters, which may then be recovered.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes and methods for converting lipids comprising fatty acids into fatty esters. According to various embodiments of the invention, the saponifiable lipids are reacted with a base to form alkali soaps. The alkali soaps are then reacted with an acid to form fatty esters. Both the base reaction and the acid reaction may occur in the presence of one or more alcohols. Following the acid reaction, a solvent may be added to effect a separation of the fatty esters, which may then be recovered.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for releasably retaining a heatsink in contact with an IC attached to a circuitboard in which the heatsink is inserted into a spring cage that is pivotally connected with an actuation lever, wherein at least a pair of spring tabs engage the heatsink to press a thermal conductive surface of the heatsink towards a circuitboard and an IC attached to the circuitboard when the combination of the heatsink, actuation lever and spring cage are inserted into the rectangular frame of a retention module mounted on the circuitboard so as to surround the IC and the lever portion of the actuation lever is pivoted towards the spring cage so as to cause retention points on the actuator portions of the actuation lever and on the rectangular frame of the spring cage to engage corresponding retention points on the rectangular frame of the retention module.